Dirt
Branching Out
Two-time NHRA Funny Car world champion Ron Capps is enjoying his new role : team owner By Josh Hachat that has been a consistent point from him – not much , especially on the track , has changed .
“ Honestly , I ’ m doing the same thing . It doesn ’ t feel any different . I haven ’ t changed anything I ’ m doing . In my mind , [ crew chiefs ] Guido [ Dean
Antonelli ] and John Medlen run the show ,” Capps says . “ They did last year , too . I ’ ve always felt that way about my crew chiefs and it ’ s neat to know you own it . At the end of the day , I love the fact that there is so much normalcy , so much life going on in our pit area and I think that ’ s going to be good for the rest of the year .”
A major change is coming in the form of his car manufacturer and sponsor , but the key points for Capps have remained from his championship-
Ron Capps didn ’ t start the 2021 NHRA season thinking he was on the cusp of becoming a team owner for the first time . But if the last couple years have taught us anything , plans often change .
This time , though , this change has been universally regarded as a positive for not only the health and future of NHRA nitro racing , but also for Capps , who has seen nothing but great things since branching out on his own . Sure , there ’ s been countless challenges and sleepless nights , but all signs point toward a great move for the now two-time Funny Car champion .
Capps has been an open book throughout the process , willing to discuss all the steps he ’ s taken to make this possible , but there ’ s been one aspect
PHOTOGRAPHS BY BOB CAMPAGNA AND NHRA
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